Sunday, January 17, 2010

Unique display of dolls

Shantha Lakshminarayan's residence in Agrahara near Lakshmi Theatre has become a cynosure of all eyes. She has been arranging dolls of various forms and sizes for the past 30 years as part of Navarathri celebrations. These dolls, created by dexterous artistes, will narrate the story of our city's culture and heritage along with the current events.Every year, Shantha showcases her dolls focussing on a particular theme and this year too she has chosen several happenings around us and has displayed them accordingly.The Mandakalli Airport, KPL cricket team, statues of Thiruvalluvar and Sarvajna, Vaikunta dwara, Brahmotsava at Tirupati, Mahishasuramardana, H1N1, Mahabalipuram beach, customs followed during Indian marriages, Shilabalike, Guruvayur Krishna (Elephant Race) and Onam are some of this year’s new additions to her collection, which are being displayed at her residence till October 8.The dolls that are being displayed are painstakingly collected not only from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, but even from abroad. Shantha finds immense pleasure in arranging these dolls as she single-handedly does all the decorations and other arrangements needed for the show. She takes initiative in explaining the current events to the children and teach them about our tradition of Dasara and Navarathri celebrations through these doll shows.Shantha has been awarded the ‘Sthree Kala Shakthi’ award instituted by the Sthree Shakthi Mahila Prasthishtana in city and has also bagged several prizes from various organisations for her doll arrangements."The response is very good and I feel happy when people appreciate my work," says Shantha, feeling immensely proud of her work. Shantha can be contacted on Mob: 93425-90792.[Tuesday 6th October 2009]